reading groups

Our Conversation Courses through the World of Books.

Improve your language skills in these interactive gatherings for all reading levels.

“If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.”

-Haruki Murakami

Book Club A
Fall Term
Sept 30/OCt 7 & 14

  • Instructor: Akane Shirata-sensei

    The Novice Reader. Novice (A1) Level 0 Readers

    I can understand familiar words, phrases, and sentences within short and simple texts related to everyday life. 

    I can use resources to understand the main idea of what I have read.

    I can recognize some hiragana and katakana 

    Prerequisite:  Started learning Hiragana and Katakana

    Are you ready to embark on this exciting adventure of learning Japanese together through the captivating world of books? Let’s dive in! We believe the most enjoyable path is through group activities at JASGA, and we are passionate about communal learning and designed our new class around the engaging concept - Book Clubs. We firmly believe these newfound language skills will serve as a stepping stone to more meaningful conversations in Japanese. We explore the same Japanese book together in our shared book club. We’ll learn new grammar patterns and also help you build a richer vocabulary.

    Suggested Companion Learning:

    Japanese 1  Steps 1-4 

    Japanese 1 Course

    THIS CLUB MEETS 3 X (ONCE PER WEEK) IN A 3-WEEK TIME FRAME

  • MONDAYS 7:00 p.m.

    Fall Term Sept 30, Oct 7 and 14

    ONLINE

  • Member: $75 per learner

    Non-Member: $90 per learner

Intermediate Book Club
Winter Term
Oct 31/Nov 7 & 14

  • Instructor: Megumi-sensei

    The Intermediate Reader. Level 4

    What: TBD but we'll read a short story from "Enjoyable Task Reading in Japanese"

    Suggested Companion Learning:

    Japanese 4 & 5  Steps 13-20

    Japanese 4 Course

    Japanese 5 Course

    THIS CLUB MEETS 3 X (ONCE PER WEEK) IN A 3-WEEK TIME FRAME

  • THURSDAYS 6:00 p.m.

    Winter Term Oct 31, November 7 and 14

    ONLINE

  • Member: $75 per learner

    Non-Member: $90 per learner

Book Club B
Fall Term 3-weeks
Sept 30/OCt 7 & 14

  • Instructor: Miho Kobayashi-sensei

    The Novice Reader. Novice High (A2) Level 1 Readers

    I can understand familiar words, phrases, and sentences within short and simple texts related to everyday life. I can sometimes understand the main idea of what I have read.

    Prerequisite: Hiragana and Katakana

    Are you ready to embark on this exciting adventure of learning Japanese together through the captivating world of books? Let’s dive in! We believe the most enjoyable path is through group activites at JASGA, and we are passionate about communal learning and designed our new class around the engaging concept - Book Clubs. We firmly believe these newfound language skills will serve as a stepping stone to more meaningful conversations in Japanese. We explore the same Japanese book together in our shared book club. We’ll learn new grammar patterns and also help you build a richer vocabulary.

    Suggested Companion Learning:

    Japanese 2 Step 5 and higher

    Japanese 2 Course

  • MONDAYS 7:00 p.m.

    Fall Term Sept 30, Oct 7 and 14

    ONLINE

  • Member: $75 per learner

    Non-Member: $90 per learner

Advanced Book Club
Winter Term
OCt 31/Nov 7 & 14

  • Instructor: Megumi-sensei

    The Advanced Reader. Level 5 Readers

    What: We're going to read a short story (it's called "short-short") by Hoshi Shinichi. PDF of your reading material will be provided. 

    Suggested Companion Learning:

    Japanese 6 or JLPT N2  Steps 20-24 

    JLPT N2 Course

    THIS CLUB MEETS 3 X (ONCE PER WEEK) IN A 3-WEEK TIME FRAME

  • THURDAYS 7:00 p.m.

    Winter Term Oct 31, Nov 7 and 14

    ONLINE

  • Member: $75 per learner

    Non-Member: $90 per learner

Book Club C
Fall Term
Sept 30/OCt 7 & 14

  • Instructor: Ichigo Kaneko-sensei

    Advanced Beginner. Eager Reader. Intermediate Low (A2) Level 2 Readers

    Group 3 / C reading group can-do statements (Level 2 readers)

    I can apply understanding of known grammar to interpret short texts.

    I can understand the main idea of short and simple texts, when the topic is familiar.

    Prerequisite: Hiragana/Katakana and frequently used Kanji

    Are you ready to embark on this exciting adventure of learning Japanese together through the captivating world of books? Let’s dive in! We believe the most enjoyable path is through group activites at JASGA, and we are passionate about communal learning and designed our new class around the engaging concept - Book Clubs. We firmly believe these newfound language skills will serve as a stepping stone to more meaningful conversations in Japanese. We explore the same Japanese book together in our shared book club. We’ll learn new grammar patterns and also help you build a richer vocabulary.

    Suggested Companion Learning:

    Japanese 3 Step 9 and higher

    Japanese 3 Course

    Japanese 4 Course

  • MONDAYS 7:00 p.m.

    Fall Term Sept 30, Oct 7 and 14

    ONLINE

  • Member: $75 per learner

    Non-Member: $90 per learner

More Information

Terms: 2025

New Year | Spring | Fall | Winter

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